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MIDI Arpeggiator - Usage Guide

🎹 How to Use the Arpeggiator

Quick Start

Run the application: python run.py
Play notes: Use keyboard keys (see below) or click Play for test notes
Start arpeggiator: Press SPACEBAR or click Play button
Stop arpeggiator: Press SPACEBAR again or click Stop button

🎵 Playing Notes with Computer Keyboard

Use these keys to play notes (like a piano):

  W   E       T   Y   U    
 A S D  F   G H J  K L ;

Key Mapping:

A = C (Middle C - note 60)
W = C# (sharp)
S = D
E = D# (sharp)
D = E
F = F
T = F# (sharp)
G = G
Y = G# (sharp)
H = A
U = A# (sharp)
J = B
K = C (next octave)

Controls:

SPACEBAR = Start/Stop arpeggiator
Hold multiple keys = Play chords
Release keys = Stop notes

🎛️ Simulator Mode (Default)

Built-in audio synthesis - hear sounds directly from the app
Visual lighting display - see synth array with brightness patterns
No external hardware needed - perfect for testing and development

What you should hear/see:

✅ Audio when notes are triggered by the arpeggiator
✅ Visual synths lighting up in patterns
✅ Different instruments per channel
✅ Volume patterns creating lighting effects

🔌 Hardware MIDI Mode

Switch to hardware mode in the "Output" tab:

Click "Hardware Mode" radio button
Select your MIDI device from dropdown
Connect to external synthesizer/software

Available MIDI Devices (from your system):

Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth (built-in Windows synth)
LoopBe Internal MIDI (virtual MIDI cable)
Other virtual MIDI devices

🎚️ Controls

Arpeggiator Tab

Root Note: Starting note (default: C4)
Scale: Musical scale (Major, Minor, Dorian, etc.)
Pattern: Up, Down, Up-Down, Random, etc.
Octave Range: 1-4 octaves
Tempo: 40-200 BPM
Note Speed: 1/32 to whole notes
Gate: Note length (10%-200%)
Swing: Timing swing (-100% to +100%)
Velocity: Note velocity (1-127)

Channels Tab

Active Synths: 1-16 synths
Instruments: Individual GM instruments per channel
Global Instrument: Apply same instrument to all channels
Voice Monitoring: See active voices per channel

Volume/Lighting Tab

Pattern: Volume patterns (Static, Swell, Breathing, Wave, etc.)
Speed: Pattern speed multiplier
Intensity: Pattern intensity
Global Ranges: Min/max volume and velocity for all channels
Individual Ranges: Per-channel volume and velocity ranges

Output Tab

Mode Selection: Simulator vs Hardware
MIDI Device: Select hardware MIDI output
Test Output: Send test note
Panic: All notes off

Presets Tab

Save/Load: Store and recall complete configurations
Import/Export: Share presets with others
Rename/Delete: Manage preset library

🎪 Lighting Effects

The arpeggiator creates synchronized lighting effects:

Routing Patterns (which synths play):

Bounce: Notes bounce between first and last synths
Cycle: Notes rotate through all synths
Wave: Smooth wave motion across synths
Random: Random synth selection for sparkle effects

Volume Patterns (brightness control):

Swell: Gradual volume increase/decrease
Breathing: Rhythmic in/out like breathing
Wave: Sine wave across channels
Cascade: Volume cascade across synths
Random Sparkle: Random volume variations

🔧 Troubleshooting

No Audio in Simulator Mode

Check Windows audio settings
Ensure no other app is using audio exclusively
Try adjusting master volume in simulator controls
Check audio device in Windows sound settings

No Sound in Hardware Mode

Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth: Check Windows volume mixer - might be muted
Virtual MIDI: Make sure receiving software synth is running
External Hardware: Check MIDI cables and device settings
Use "Test Output" button to verify MIDI connection

Keyboard Input Not Working

Make sure main window has focus (click on it)
Keys only work when window is active
Try clicking in the window then pressing keys

Performance Issues

Reduce active synth count if sluggish
Lower volume pattern update rate
Close other resource-intensive applications

💡 Tips for Best Results

Start Simple: Use default settings, add a few notes, press Play
Experiment with Patterns: Try different arp patterns and routing patterns
Layer Effects: Combine musical patterns with volume patterns for cool visuals
Use Presets: Save configurations you like for quick recall
Hardware Setup: Use virtual MIDI cables to connect to software synths like VCV Rack, Ableton Live, etc.

🎨 Art Installation Usage

For your art installation:

Set Active Synths to match your physical synth count (1-16)
Configure Routing Patterns for spatial lighting effects
Set Volume Patterns for dynamic brightness
Use Hardware Mode to send MIDI to your synth array
Maschine Integration for live control (when connected)

Each synth channel will control both the audio synthesis and lighting brightness simultaneously!

Have fun creating amazing arpeggiated lighting shows! 🌟

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